HELP WANTED
This just received in the NCA email box:
Can you help me by suggesting the best way to recruit experienced stylists in my area (a mid-sized metropolitan city)? I am the manager of a salon and personally new to the industry. What you would suggest as a good medium to reach out and contact professionals in my local market (whether it be advertisement, direct mail, website listings, etc.). If you know of specific publications or ways to obtain email lists it would also be helpful.
If you have thoughts on the best way to find experienced help – or other thoughts on the question of recruitment, click the “comments” link below. If there is no link below, click here and then click on the “comments” link that will be below this paragraph.
August 11th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Hi
There area many different places for you to start, in finding a experianced stylist. One of the first places I recommend is your account executives from salon products like “Redkin” Reps or what ever retail lines your salon carries. They are a great resource of experianced stylist. Many of them are stylist that are unhappy and may be ready for a change. Or the Salon may be closing and they need to find a new Salon.
I would also contact all your local Beauty Schools and keep in good contact with them. The new talent is always good for you to be interviewing with. You never know, you may find that Diamiond in the ruff, just waiting for the perfect opportunity. My last place I would look is on Craiglist. There is a Salon section, that has been very helpful to many Owners I know.
I hope this helps and if you need any more help with the business end and sales, I am available at 760-644-6436.
Make it a great day!
Carrie a
August 14th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Hi There!
-Some websites to try are salonjobs.com, behindthechair.com or backpage.com
-Network with other salons in your area. They may have applicants they can recommend that they liked but didn’t fit their salons culture.
-I also know that in the past when I was looking for a new salon to work in I’d go in for a shampoo and blow dry so I could observe the atmosphere.
That may work for hiring as well.
-Ask your team members! It’s a small industry and they usually know who’s good and who’s not.
Best,
CJ
August 21st, 2008 at 4:09 pm
The best way to attact great help is to (1) build a great reputation as a wonderful place to work and (2)create a business that can provide benefits so you retain your staff. Also, you must grow your own staff and not depend on “experienced staff” from other salons.
August 24th, 2008 at 8:03 am
Some of our best help has come from the state apprenticeship program. We get them for two years with their option to sign on for two more if I pay their tuition etc.Most stylist fresh out of school need retraining anyway. They get an excellent experiance and usually have a full clientel at the end of their training. We also are able to use them as assistant after they reach a certain level of expertise. Good Luck John A
August 25th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
There is a great site that Paul Mitchell has to connect with stylist looking for jobs www.paulmitchellconnect.com
August 26th, 2008 at 7:10 am
I agree 100% with Keith. Last year it took me nearly 6 months to find a salon to work for when I relocated. (It was not my skills keeping me from a job I am ABCH, with over 15years as a stylist and educator for a manufaturer) It was salon owners that expected me to bring a client list with me. You need to have built the solid foundation that clients trust that you only hire quality stylists. No one wants to work/go to a salon of smoker and joker crews. I was offered more jobs at salons full of stylists that weren’t busy hanging out side drinking coffee, smoking, sitting around reading magazines, etc… Thus the owner/managers were looking to find a stylist that could be there big ticket. If you owned a restaurant would you expect your chefs to bring there clients to your restaurant?? No your vision and work as the management are what should bring the stylists/customers.
You create a solid salon experience and the stylists will come. I had over 10 phone calls or meetings with my salon before I took the job, because it had to be the right timing for all of us, And it was. The salon I work for is busy and has a wonderful reputation for its quality and professionalism. I still had to build a client list and a reputation in a new state, but it was a quick and the salon had the overflow from the current staff to make this happen.
If you build it they will come.
Oh and I found my job on Behindthechair.com.
September 16th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
SalonChannel.com has a place on their website where you can post job openings. It’s a great place to post because the only people that go to their website are professionals in the spa and beauty industry.
September 21st, 2008 at 8:29 am
When you hire “experienced stylists with a following” you are making yourself a part of the mainstream salon idea that stylists and clients come and go together and that you live in fear every day that some or all will leave. The only long term solution to staffing is to hire from schools and build your own team, advertise and promote your business to build a clientle for the salon (not for each stylist) and create a winning culture that people can be loyal to.
October 2nd, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Congradualtions Craig. Very good advice. Now if everyone would play by the same rules, we will end staff pirating and turnover. A code of ethics and honesty is the only way to have business stability and job security.
Jon Gonzales
October 3rd, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Staff Recruitment will be one of the biggest challenges of salon ownership . Unfortunately far too many salon owners are trying to recruit other salon owners staff in the hopes of them bringing a clientele . When you do this you will be setting the stage for dishonesty in your own salon . Eventually they will walk on you when a better offer comes along .How can we continue to grow our businesses and raise prices in this unethicalenviornment . I have a report coming out soon with business tips on recruitment . A recruitment brochure and letter to all graduates of beauty sachools would be a start. By hiring young talent and training them , you can build customer loyalty to your business , help your staff grow ,maintain business stability and growth and manage your business .i commend you for your professionalism .
Jon